Optical fiber assembly, method of fabricating same, and probe

Abstract

An optical fiber assembly includes optical fibers, an array member, an adhesive part, a cylindrical member and a fixing member. The fibers are inserted into the array member, and the array member is inserted into a cylindrical part of the cylindrical member. The adhesive part is disposed on one-end side of the array member. The fibers extend through the one end. The cylindrical part and the fixing member are fixed to each other in a state in which (i) the array member is sandwiched between a terminal part of the cylindrical member and the fixing member in an axial direction and (ii) the array member is positioned in the axial direction in relation to the cylindrical part. Thereby, the array member and the adhesive part are housed in a structure constituted of the cylindrical member and the fixing member.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical fiber assembly comprising:
 a plurality of optical fibers; 
 an array member into which the optical fibers are inserted and which retains the optical fibers with a predetermined arrangement; 
 an adhesive part which (i) is disposed on a one-end side where one end of the array member is disposed, the one end through which the optical fibers extend, (ii) is formed of an adhesive having curability and (iii) makes the array member and the optical fibers adhere to each other; 
 a structure comprising of a cylindrical member and a fixing member; 
 the cylindrical member including:
 a cylindrical part into which the array member is inserted and which retains an outer circumference of the array member; and 
 a terminal part which contacts another end of the array member; and 
 
 the fixing member which (i) is disposed on the one-end side of the array member, (ii) is entirely or partly inserted into the cylindrical part and (iii) contacts the one end of the array member, 
 wherein the cylindrical part and the fixing member are fixed to each other in a state in which (i) the array member is sandwiched between the terminal part and the fixing member in an axial direction and (ii) the array member is positioned in the axial direction in relation to the cylindrical part, whereby the array member and the adhesive part are housed in the structure constituted of the cylindrical member and the fixing member, and 
 wherein the outer circumference of the array member is retained by the cylindrical part in such a way as to contact a inner circumference of the cylindrical part. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical fiber assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical member is constituted of the terminal part and the cylindrical part which are individual components. 
     
     
       3. The optical fiber assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical member is constituted of the terminal part and the cylindrical part which are integrated as a component. 
     
     
       4. The optical fiber assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fixing member is provided with a retaining hole into which the optical fibers are inserted, 
 wherein the retaining hole extends away from the one end of the array member and through the adhesive part, and 
 wherein the optical fibers are firmly attached to each other and retained in the retaining hole by the adhesive part. 
 
     
     
       5. A probe comprising:
 the optical fiber assembly according to  claim 1 ; 
 a tube into which the optical fiber assembly is inserted; and 
 an optical connector which is disposed on one end of the tube and connects the optical fibers to an optical device, 
 wherein the cylindrical member is fixed to another end of the tube. 
 
     
     
       6. A method of fabricating an optical fiber assembly comprising:
 a plurality of optical fibers; 
 an array member into which the optical fibers are inserted and which retains the optical fibers with a predetermined arrangement; 
 an adhesive part which (i) is disposed on a one-end side where one end of the array member is disposed, the one end through which the optical fibers extend, (ii) is formed of an adhesive having curability and (iii) makes the array member and the optical fibers adhere to each other; 
 a structure comprising of a cylindrical member and a fixing member; 
 the cylindrical member including:
 a cylindrical part into which the array member is inserted and which retains an outer circumference of the array member; and 
 a terminal part which contacts another end of the array member; and 
 
 the fixing member which (i) is disposed on the one-end side of the array member, (ii) is entirely or partly inserted into the cylindrical part and (iii) contacts the one end of the array member, 
 wherein the cylindrical part and the fixing member are fixed to each other in a state in which (i) the array member is sandwiched between the terminal part and the fixing member in an axial direction and (ii) the array member is positioned in the axial direction in relation to the cylindrical part, whereby the array member and the adhesive part are housed in the structure constituted of the cylindrical member and the fixing member, 
 wherein the outer circumference of the array member is retained by the cylindrical part in such a way as to contact a inner circumference of the cylindrical part, 
 wherein the fixing member is provided with a retaining hole into which the optical fibers are inserted, 
 wherein the retaining hole extends away from the one end of the array member and through the adhesive part, and 
 wherein the optical fibers are firmly attached to each other and retained in the retaining hole by the adhesive part, 
 the method comprising: 
 inserting the optical fibers into the array member; 
 applying the adhesive which forms the adhesive part to the one-end side where the one end of the array member is disposed, the one end through which the optical fibers extend; 
 inserting the array member into the cylindrical part; 
 inserting the optical fibers which extend through the one end of the array member into the retaining hole; and thereafter; 
 inserting the fixing member into the cylindrical part in such a way as to sandwich the array member between the terminal part and the fixing member in the axial direction, thereby positioning the array member in the axial direction in relation to the cylindrical part; and 
 curing the adhesive in a state in which the optical fibers are firmly attached to each other and retained in the retaining hole.